I think you are missing the point of this bike. It is not meant for that type of riding.
Why would you want to add 100lbs of weight to a bike that was designed to be as light and maneuverable as possible?

If it even makes it to the states, which if it doesn't, KTM is crazy, would make the ultimate girl bike, IMHO!

Watch the video posted above, and that is the type of riding this bike was made for.
Think of your ADV riding more along the lines of exploring the 100 acres of woods down the street you have always wanted to, but your big bike, with bags and such always keep you from doing it.

Bundy

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I don't have a big bike, hell I don't even have two bikes. Right now I just have a WR250X that started life as an R. I've ridden it all over the damn place, 30k miles since I bought it new in January 2010. Some of that is exploring the woods near my house, some of that is running the ORV trails that are about a 3 hour ride each way away from home, a lot of it is just plain commuting, and some of it is loaded up for 3 week camping trips (my gear weighs in around 40 pounds total btw)

The only thing I'd change on it is the weight, much much rather have something 220 pounds when I ride a through the woods over the 300 pounds of my WRR. Hell at 220 pounds I'd be tempted to try an enduro or a hare scramble and such, which is something I'd expect the Freeride 350 to handle just fine for my not-quite-C-class riding skills. But if it can also run relatively smoothly and with similar comfort to my WRR on the street too? It suddenly becomes the perfect dual sport for me.

I think you are missing the point of this bike. It is not meant for that type of riding.
Why would you want to add 100lbs of weight to a bike that was designed to be as light and maneuverable as possible?

If it even makes it to the states, which if it doesn't, KTM is crazy, would make the ultimate girl bike, IMHO!

Watch the video posted above, and that is the type of riding this bike was made for.
Think of your ADV riding more along the lines of exploring the 100 acres of woods down the street you have always wanted to, but your big bike, with bags and such always keep you from doing it.

Bundy

Click to expand...

Think you're thinking about things in too narrow of terms. When I was living up in the PNW, Bobo-Boogie and I used to regularly take off on our 250F's with a couple of backpacks and go riding/camping for a few days. Much different than the type of rides we'd do on out XR650's. Don't think it's crazy at all that someone might want to do what skierd is proposing. Powering heated gear wouldn't be a driving concern for me, but I don't know how/where he rides. But if it means he doesn't have to stop to do this every few miles, I completely understand. Any way you slice it, this bike is appealing if you are looking for a lightweight bike to do some technical riding with. Hopefully it's street legal and more on the maintenance schedule of something like a WR250R/X or a Honda XR than a MX-based racebike. If that's the case, I'd be thrilled with the 20-whatever horsepower this thing is supposed to be putting out. Recently bought a 2010 450XCW that I just finished getting all dialed-in, but new Freeride 350 looks like it might be the bike I've been waiting for.

Think you're thinking about things in too narrow of terms. When I was living up in the PNW, Bobo-Boogie and I used to regularly take off on our 250F's with a couple of backpacks and go riding/camping for a few days. Much different than the type of rides we'd do on out XR650's. Don't think it's crazy at all that someone might want to do what skierd is proposing. Powering heated gear wouldn't be a driving concern for me, but I don't know how/where he rides. But if it means he doesn't have to stop to do this every few miles, I completely understand. Any way you slice it, this bike is appealing if you are looking for a lightweight bike to do some technical riding with. Hopefully it's street legal and more on the maintenance schedule of something like a WR250R/X or a Honda XR than a MX-based racebike. If that's the case, I'd be thrilled with the 20-whatever horsepower this thing is supposed to be putting out. Recently bought a 2010 450XCW that I just finished getting all dialed-in, but new Freeride 350 looks like it might be the bike I've been waiting for.

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Throwing a back pack on and disappearing into the woods is one thing, setting up for extended touring is another.
But eventually someone will make a bigger tank for it, maybe even me if it comes to the states.
I can guarantee that the sub frame is light weight, not intended for load caring.
The gear box will be low ratio trials like, although it does have a 6 speed, so maybe ok for short jaunts on the street.
However the ignition will be powerful enough to power the EFI, so should have some extra juice.
But bottom line is if you buy one, you can modify it anyway you want too!
Its just that I do not believe the bike as designed will be a good starting point for what skierd is looking for.
The WR250R, which he has was designed for what he uses it for.

7,250 Euros is $9815 if the website I did that on is correct. Real nice bike, if plated would be perfect, but a little pricey if thats what it would go for here.
But feel free to double check those numbers.

7,250 Euros is $9815 if the website I did that on is correct. Real nice bike, if plated would be perfect, but a little pricey if thats what it would go for here.
But feel free to double check those numbers.

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I think your conversion is in line, but I was comparing it to the bikes he listed and their US prices, so I am guessing around 7-8k. Still spendy, but I thought $4k was a ton of money when I bought my KLX 15 years ago, and these seem like a huge upgrade.

According to KTM North America, there are no plans to bring the Freeride or small-displacement Dukes into the U.S. for the 2012 model year. But hopefully, these great entry-level bikes will, in time, find their way stateside.

THIS IS A MISTAKE ON KTM`S PART!!!!!!!
They are missing the point.
The market is ripe for this bike, especially if they would cross market it to women!

KTM seems to be going down the same road Honda did. Dealers on the east coast are being stuck with tons of these big bore 4-strokes noone wants and KTM is not providing them with enough of the units they can really move. Hopefully, they reconsider the freeride and duke. Most likely just keep pushing the same huge adventure bikes and street machines that just don't move.